Able Active Launches for Greater Info on Accessible Sport

A progressive Irish Tech company has developed the first app in Europe to give people with disabilities information on a wide range of accessible amenities across the country.

Regarded as a major breakthrough in promoting accessible facilities, Able Active builds on technology designed for sports participation, with considerable input from potential service users and advocacy groups.

It is a fully integrated and comprehensive app that signposts accessible recreational facilities for people with disabilities and is the fruition of a long-term project developed with support from the European Space Agency.

Able Active uniquely captures feedback and gradings on accessibility and inclusivity, based on real users’ experience, by distinct disability categories, ensuring that others with similar needs can trust the rating and have better confidence that their needs will be met.

“Able Active is the result of 6 years of investment and software development, applying data for the benefit of people with differing types of disabilities and with a deep commitment to data privacy and safeguarding,” said CEO Adrian Geissel.

Accessible

“I am passionate about outdoors pursuits and sport, and passionate that they are accessible for all. People living with disabilities should have access to outdoor amenities and facilities suitable for their needs. Able Active provides deeper information that aims to inform and hopefully inspire greater participation for their enjoyment, health, and wellbeing.”

“This is so important for people who have varying levels of disability, many of which are hidden. Able Active is a fully integrated and highly user-friendly guide which maps tracks, trails and amenities and allows each user to determine if these routes are suitable for their particular needs, supported by the ratings and feedback from other users with similar needs.”

“It allows people to plan their days around the various amenities from forests to beaches and gives real-time live data on weather and pinpoints where safety equipment is located, crucial to ensure safety for users. It also allows for users to record, replay and repeat their own favourite routes, which is very valuable”.

“It is interactive, so it will allow people with disabilities to rate accessibility based on their experience, which is vital for both their peers and for the owners or providers of the amenities as they can use this information to further adapt the facilities in order to make them more accessible and user friendly.”

“It allows for users to connect with family and friends through the app and for group leaders to plan, share and coordinate activities for any gatherings, and this helps to bolster safety and security as well as strengthen the community of people with disabilities.”

Detailed

“Facilities including accessible toilets and parking, surfaces, obstacles, inclines or declines can be detailed.”

“The wonderful thing too is that people with an interest in full inclusion for those living with disabilities to get involved, to identify amenities they know to be accessible, in addition to using many available databases.”

“Able Active is a community platform for gathering new data that is important to the community. For example, disabled parking spots outside of urban areas, especially at amenity or trailhead locations, can be submitted through the app.”

“This is a very important platform for amenity operators and sports organisations to connect with this community of users, highlighting the investments they’ve made to support their needs and also to understand how these supports are valued by their users.”

“There is so much potential for collaboration and partnership across the entire range of amenities, organisations and events, and this is only going to be an incredibly positive way forward for people living with a disability.”

Experience

“This is only the start of a journey, where we look to present more options where people with disabilities can be active, based on the experiences of others with similar needs and, in doing so, make being active a more inclusive experience for all. “

This is a vision shared by Sarah Kerrigan, project lead for Able Active.

“I love the outdoors but know from personal experience how little information is available on the accessibility of trails and other amenities,” said the advocate and Sport for Business PwC 30 Under 30 nominee this year.

“Working with Able Active allows me to make sure that the app and platform meet the needs of our users and for those who, like me, also want to share their knowledge to help others benefit from nature and being active.”

Sport for Business will host its annual Sport for Social Good Conference in Dublin on Thursday, October 24th, in partnership with Allianz. This is one of many events planned for the remainder of 2024.

Register your interest to attend a Sport for Business event here.

Able Active, Active Disability Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland are among the 300 organisations, which include all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies, that are members of the Sport for Business community.

Find out more about joining us today.